Mayo novelist shortlisted for prestigious national award
Mayo novelist Padraig McLoughlin has been shortlisted for the Carousel Aware Prize (CAP) for Independent Published Authors 2024.
The Westport-based writer has been nominated in the fiction category for his novel 'Only The Stones Never Die.'
The awards ceremony will be held at Chapters, Parnell Street, Dublin, on Friday, November 1, at 6.30 p.m.
The Carousel Aware Prize is an important initiative celebrating Ireland’s top indie talent, founded by Carolann Copland.
CAP’s patron is the 2024 Booker Prize Winner, Paul Lynch, and it is the only book competition specifically for indie authors in Ireland.
Categories include Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children's Senior, Children’s Junior and Anthologies. It also provides sponsored opportunities for low-income writers, promoting inclusivity.
CAP supports self-published authors by connecting them to bookstores, distributors, and media — while raising awareness for the mental health charity Aware.
It was ‘Super Thursday,’ last week, a significant day in traditional publishing, with up to 2,500 new books hitting UK and Irish shelves, all competing for the lucrative pre-Christmas market.
Celebrity biographies and children's books dominate this year’s releases, with publishers battling to capture readers’ attention and boost sales.
For indie authors, the challenges are even greater. Unlike traditional publishers, they must fight to get their books on store shelves, facing tough barriers like distribution issues and high listing fees—all without the support or resources of traditional publishing. It’s an uphill struggle fuelled by passion and determination.
But now, Chapters Bookstore in Dublin is changing the game.
Recognising that the indie author market is evolving, Chapters will host ‘Indie Author Days’ this year and next for the Carousel Aware Prize (CAP) winners.
Chapters Bookstore, one of Ireland's largest independents, is a beloved Dublin bookshop known for its vast selection of new and second-hand books. Its welcoming vibe and affordable prices make it a go-to spot for book lovers.
One of these initiatives is the opportunity for CAP Prize winners to spend an ‘Indie Author Day’ in-store — signing books, doing readings and interacting directly with readers to highlight their work.
Chapters is proving they are partners, not gatekeepers, for the CAP Award finalists.
They’re setting a new standard by championing these up and coming authors.
As co-owner Michael Finucane explained, they aim to discover the ‘golden nuggets’ missed by traditional publishers, where only about 1% of manuscripts are accepted.
With so many great stories overlooked, CAP.ie is thrilled to see Chapters leading the way in championing independent writers.